The fire started around noon and was accompanied by reports of explosions. Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Dan Nichols said the fire at 218 Keefer St., just off Main, was in a three-story apartment building on top of a restaurant. He said it appeared to have started as a fire in one of the apartments before spreading to an attic, keeping firefighters busy locating hot spots within the structure. “Being such an old building, there are a lot of empty spots,” Nichols said. “And you can travel by fire in these voids. [we] chased it a bit.’ Nichols said all residents of the building are safe, but 39 people are out of their homes and have been placed in social housing by Vancouver Emergency Support Services. Fire near Main & Keefer in Vancouver’s Chinatown. He felt an explosion just before he saw this. I hope everyone is well 🙏 pic.twitter.com/gd8VQ7zDWv —@SamuelGorski The second fire was near Hastings and Carral. Firefighters said the building was empty and no one was injured. Fires have been a major concern in the Downtown Eastside in recent months. A fire at a small storefront church in the summer is now being investigated as arson. The fire chief has ordered a large collection of tents along East Hastings to be dismantled over fire safety concerns, but it is also leading to further displacement of residents.
